Kind Hearts and Gentle People

Tale of a Bullet and an Invisible Bear

January 8, 2008 Thank you folks!

There was a shooting mishap [The Mountain Enterprise, "Don Tait Recovering From Bullet Wound," Dec. 21, 2007] in which I accidentally put a .38 slug through my leg. A memorable experience, I might add.

My son, Brian, advised me to try to work a large bear into the story so I wouldn’t look so stupid… but when sirens started blaring and helicopters were landing with lights flashing, there was no keeping it sub rosa.

But all that is not what this piece is about. It’s about kind hearts and gentle people.

I was barely home from Kern County Emergency when people started gathering, asking how they could help. Two people were in the Emergency waiting room while I was being X-rayed and ministered.

I was caroled by the Frazier Park Evangelical Church from my porch. I was gifted with porcelain and knitted guardian angels. When Pastor Fred Rose appeared at the front of my bed, I asked if the prognosis was that bad.

The local chapter of Rotary gathered in my bedroom and, in song, wished me a Merry Christmas. I welled up when they left.

Complete dinners arrived. Homemade chicken soup, filet mignon. Volunteer nursing. Get well cards, some advising me that I was now on the same plane as Dick Cheney.

Chores were done for me.

Kind ladies have given up their day driving me to Bakersfield to keep doctor appointments and to shop for elastic stockings (confession is good for the soul).

Delicious homemade candies appeared on my table and filled my refrigerator. Most of them came from I know not where. I have guardedly shared them with callers.

Frankly, for the most part, I don’t now who is responsible for this largess, but I want to take this opportunity to thank one and all.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Clause and he lives in the kind hearts and gentle people of our town. But don’t find out the hard way like I did. Take my word for it!